They are finally redeemed from the bondage of Egypt. There are three scenes in this passage.

1 – The pursuit of Pharaoh (vs. 1-12)

They are to move back in a westerly direction to Pihahiroth and camp between Migdol and the Sea. Pharaoh interprets this as meaning that the people have lost their way in the wilderness. He is prompted by his colleagues to repossess the Hebrews. Six hundred chariots are chosen. It is late in the afternoon when the children of Israel somehow discover that Pharaoh has changed his mind. Immediately the people cry out against the Lord and His messenger, Moses.

They have a very short memory of the miracles that Yahweh had already performed. They wish they were back as slaves rather than out in the desert ready to be crushed under chariot wheels. Israel became slaves in the present because they forgot God’s redemption in the past and God’s promises in the future.

2 – The passage through the Sea (vs. 13-22)

Moses’ response shows the maturity that he has now developed. He barks out three commands.

• “Do not be afraid” – Put yourself in this spot. The Red Sea is before you and Pharaoh behind. Moses can say this because he knows God.
• “Stand still” – They are to stand solidly.
• “See the salvation of God” – He does not instruct them to build defences or align themselves for battle. This is the kind of battle that only Yahweh can win.

It is late in the afternoon when the Egyptian forces draw near. The cloud moves behind the Israelites and becomes a protective veil. It separates the two forces. God tells Moses to stretch out his rod over the water. As he does this God causes a mighty east wind to so blow that there is a passage that is formed as the waters of the Red Sea are divided in half. A dray passage of land is miraculously provided. See Hebrews 11. By faith they passed through the Red Sea.

Most liberals see this passage as being mythological. Others try to explain the event as having happened by natural means. The common explanation by liberals is that they moved through a shallow part of water. This ignores the detail of the passage. There was a wall on both sides and sufficient enough to destroy the Egyptian army. The wind is strong enough to blow back the waters of the Red Sea but yet they are not blown to pieces by the wind. It lasts long enough for two million people to cross. This is a supernatural work of God and cannot be understood by man.

3 – The destruction of the Egyptians (vs. 24-31)

It is between 3 pm and daybreak and the cloud moves. The Egyptians see the passage through the Red Sea and by the providence of God, Pharaoh sends his forces into the passage after the Israelites. God sees this and sends the forces of Pharaoh into confusion. The ground that had been so solid for the Israelites now becomes so soft that they cannot drive. As they beat their horses on their chariots, the wheels on the chariots begin to fall off. The Egyptians look at the walls on either side and recognise that something supernatural is happening. They begin to fear and retrace their steps.

God tells Moses on the other side to stretch forth his rod over the water. As he does so the waters return to their normal place and Pharaoh and his entire force are destroyed in the Red Sea. The vast army of Pharaoh was floating dead in the water. When the people saw this they were filled with great fear for Yahweh and his servant Moses.

Israel had been redeemed by the power of God. They had been redeemed from death. See Exodus 12. Now they have been redeemed from Pharaoh. Three things have happened to Israel on this side of the Sea.

• They were delivered from bondage to Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
• They were separated from the land of Egypt.
• They were introduced to a new life that would lead to Canaan.

Categories: Exodus